18th Report - Use of AI in Government

Select Committee

Public Accounts Committee HC 356 26 March 2025

Report Status Government responded

Conclusions & Recommendations 27 items (8 recs)

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Government Response (AI assessment · 27 of 27 classified)

Accepted 19

Acknowledged 8

Government response

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Eighteenth report from Session 2024-25 · published 10 Jul 2025

Read the government response ↗ Response on the tracker

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 results

4 Conclusion Acknowledged

Establish mechanism for AI pilot learning and scale successful products across government.

Conclusion

DSIT has no systematic mechanism for bringing together learning from pilots and there are few examples of successful at–scale adoption across government. At the time of the NAO report (March 2024), levels of AI use in government were low, but … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees but states a proposal is currently being developed within the Public Sector AI Adoption programme, which will define scope, secure funding, and build a minimal viable product for a mechanism to scale AI initiatives.

HM Treasury

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6 Conclusion Acknowledged

Ensure Government Digital and AI Roadmap has clear implementation plan with milestones and metrics.

Conclusion

Realising the benefits of AI across the public sector will require strong leadership from DSIT. Addressing the skills shortage, tackling the persistent issues with poor data quality and out–of–date technology, and providing the support and guardrails the public sector needs … Read more Realising the benefits of AI across the public sector will require strong leadership from DSIT. Addressing the skills shortage, tackling the persistent issues with poor data quality and out–of–date technology, and providing the support and guardrails the public sector needs to build public trust and adopt AI safely and responsibly all require a clear strategy and strong leadership. In its report, the NAO raised concerns about unclear accountabilities and limited integration of governance across Cabinet 7 Office—which was primarily responsible for AI adoption in the public sector, through CDDO, i.AI and the Government Digital Service (GDS)— and DSIT, which held responsibility for wider AI policy. We welcome the move of CDDO, GDS and i.AI to DSIT in 2024 to create a digital centre of government. This new Government Digital Service, and the proposals in A blueprint for modern digital government to require all executive teams and boards to include a digital leader by 2026, offer an opportunity to strengthen leadership and governance and support digital transformation. However, the scale of the task should not be underestimated and we are seriously concerned whether DSIT has sufficient leverage to drive change across the public sector. One significant way to do this is to ensure that every department and their agencies have a senior Government Digital Service officer embedded at senior management levels in their organisation and agencies to oversee digital policy and procurement change. Equally the relevant procurement and main boards should include people with excellent digital policy and procurement skills. recommendation a. DSIT must ensure that the proposed Government Digital and AI Roadmap is underpinned by a clear implementation plan with: • clear accountabilities at the centre, across government and the wider public sector • delivery milestones to drive change and maintain momentum • metrics to track progress and spend over time, to identify whether further levers Show less

Government Response Summary

The government agrees, stating DSIT is exploring mechanisms to enhance digital expertise and integrate senior digital professionals, aligning with existing intent to require digital leaders on boards and a dotted reporting line to the Government Chief Digital Officer, but does not detail a specific implementation plan for the proposed roadmap itself.

HM Treasury

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9 Conclusion Acknowledged

Inadequate access to good-quality data impedes government's AI implementation efforts.

Conclusion

Access to good–quality data was identified as a barrier to implementing AI by 62% of the 87 government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey.16 We received written evidence expressing a range of views on this topic, illustrating the complexity of … Read more

Government Response Summary

DSIT will set out details of its programme of work to address barriers to data sharing in the upcoming Government Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap, including work to improve cross-government data management practices with a focus on data quality, as well as how this work will support successful realization of the National Data Library.

HM Treasury

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11 Conclusion Acknowledged

Public trust is vital for AI adoption but remains low, requiring greater transparency.

Conclusion

67% of government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey said that support from the centre of government in fostering public trust in AI was very important.23 Written evidence we received from a wide range of stakeholders emphasised the vital importance … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government acknowledges the importance of public trust and data privacy in AI adoption.

HM Treasury

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14 Conclusion Acknowledged

Significant recruitment and retention challenges hinder government's adoption of AI and digital skills.

Conclusion

70% of government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey identified difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff with AI skills as a barrier to AI adoption.31 In January 2025, the government’s State of digital government review set out the digital and … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government acknowledges the digital skills gaps and is taking steps to implement reforms, including refining frameworks, developing talent pipelines, and encouraging skills exchange. More detail is promised in the forthcoming Digital and AI Roadmap.

HM Treasury

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15 Recommendation Acknowledged

Addressing the AI skills gap is crucial for responsible and ethical public sector AI adoption.

Recommendation

Written evidence we received emphasised the importance of addressing this skills gap, raising concerns about the public sector’s ability to take advantage of the opportunities of AI responsibly and ethically without 28 Qq 10–11 29 Q 57 30 Q 20 … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government agrees with the recommendation to address the digital skills gap in the public sector but provides only general plans such as refining frameworks, developing talent pipelines, and encouraging skills exchange. More detail is promised in the forthcoming Digital and AI Roadmap.

HM Treasury

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18 Conclusion Acknowledged

AI deployment not widespread across government, with most bodies still piloting or planning use.

Conclusion

At the time of the NAO report in March 2024 AI was not widely used across government, with just over a third (37%) of 87 government bodies surveyed reporting they had deployed AI. In contrast, over two–thirds (70%) were piloting … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the new Government Digital Service and its aim to unite efforts to grasp the opportunities of technology and AI.

HM Treasury

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24 Conclusion Acknowledged

AI governance fragmented across government, but recent departmental transfers consolidate responsibility.

Conclusion

At the time of the NAO report, responsibility for AI in government was split across the Cabinet Office—which was primarily responsible for AI adoption in the public sector, through CDDO, i.AI and the Government Digital Service (GDS)—and DSIT, which held … Read more

Government Response Summary

The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the new Government Digital Service and its aim to unite efforts to grasp the opportunities of technology and AI.

HM Treasury

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